Driving mechanism



DRIVING MEcHANsM l Filed May 25, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l ffii@ Zagen@ Aug. s, 1933. 1 E, H. AUG 1,921,749

DRIVING MEGHANISM Filed May 23, 1952 2 sheets-sheet 2 713.5 /42' Q /0 /ge/ d /5 Patented Aug. 8, 1933 x zcurrent srnrss Y DRIVING MECHANVISAM Eugene H. Haug, Chicago, Ill., assignor of ,one-- third to Hugh E."Young and 4one-third. to Eugene S."1.aylor,` both of Chicago, Ill.

Application Mayes, isazxserial No. 613,075

1 Claim.

connection with the so-called caterpillar drive in which the driving means includes an endless exible driving member mounted as stated above,

operating in connectionY with a driven member parallel and adjacent to one of the reaches of the driving member.

In mechanism of the character referred to, the driving member is provided with lugs, dogs or jaws adapted'toengage parts on the driven member. As the driving member passes over the supporting wheel at the end of the reach, the driving jaw, being radially mounted, increases its velocity. This would causeundue pressure against the part on the driven member, with consequent binding and unequal distribution of the load, unless means is provided for releasing the driving engagement before and as the jaw passes over the supporting'wheel. One of the features of my invention is the provision of driving vmechanism to effect such release. l

Other features and advantages of my invention will appear more fully as I proceed with my specification. Y

In that forni of device embodying the features of my invention shown in thevaccompanying drawings- Figure 1 is a view in side elevation; Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are similar views shownajrespectively, engagement and release of` the driving jaw; Fig. 5 is an enlarged view in side elevation of a-pair of driving jaws; Fig. 6 is a top plan view; Fig. 7 is a view taken as indicated bythe line 7 of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a view taken as indicated by the line 8 of Fig. 7; and Fig.'9 is a view takenl as V4.0 indicated by the line 9 of Fig. V8.

and a plurality of supportsV 1 1 here shown asnalsoV comprising links of the chain itself. Each of the supports 11 carries a pair of jaws 12 and 13` pivotally mounted in the support. This mount# ing is accomplished in the following manner. The support 11, as has been stated, forms one of the links cf the chain. The side plates of this link are indicated by 11a, 11a. f' Each of the jaws 12 and 13 is provided with a, pair ,of trunnions mounted in suitable bearings in the side plates 11a. The trunnions on the jaw 12 are indicated by 12a and those on the jaw 13, by 13a.

One trunnion on each jaw (on opposite sides ci' 'the chain) has a squared extension. These squared extensions are indicated by 12b and 13?), respectively. Each of these squared extensions carriesan operating lever. Such operating lever for the jaw 12 is indicated by lll and the one carried by the 'jawgli is indicated by 15. Each of these operating levers, carries aroller, such rollers being indicated by 11a and 15a, respectively. These rollers `are adapted to engage cams when the driving member moves to cause the jaws to release, as is hereinafter more specifically described. v

The jaws are equipped with segments 12 and 13C, respectively, Y carrying intermeshing gear teeth 12d and 13d. `By means of these gear teeth movement of one jaw will move the other in awell-known manner. i

16 indicates a cani surface adapted j'to be en gaged by the roller` if@ on the arm` 14.` This earn surface has a Curved Vend 16a at its forward end anda similar curved surface 1Gb at itsI rear end. i7 indicates a cam surface on the other side of the chain for engaging 4the roller 15a on the arml.. This carni` surface similarly has a curved portion 17EL at the front end and a curved portion 17h at its rearend.

Assuming that the chain is traveling in thel direction indicated by. the arrows, it willbe seen that the jaws 12 of each part do4 all the driving, said jaws operating against pins 20 carried by the driven member, `shown asa chain or conveyor 21. When operating in the direction indicated by the arrows, the jaws 13 of each part serve to prevent overrunning; andV said jaws i3 kwill do the driving when the apparatus is operated in the reverse direction. 95 Assuming that the apparatus is operating in the direction indicated by the arrows, it will be seen that the jaws 12 do all'v of the driving. ItV will be seen, also, ,j that as the driving chain passes over the pulley 9, the horizontal speedv of the ends of the jaws 12 wherethey engage the pins 20 will be'increased, due to theradial mounting of said jaws, unless somemeans lis provided for releasing the driving engagement. Ir `such release were not provided, there would be an undue strain on each jaw as it started to pass over the pulley 9 so that the jaws at `sucnpoint lwould take too much load.' The jaw 12 is pivoted in thesupporting member 11 on the trunnions 12?,v as above described. This pivotal 110, i

mounting permits thevjavf 12 to be moved from operative or driving position where it will engage the pin 20 to inoperative or release position where it will clear such pin. Such rotative movement oi the jaw from one position to the other is controlled by the arm 14 which is operated by contaet of the roller 1&1a on the arm with the cam surface 16 and the curved ends 16an and 16lo thereof. When the apparatus operates in the direction indicated by the arrows, the roller 14a on the arm 14 engages the curved end 16a of the cam track to bring the jaw 14 up into driving position where it will engage the adjacent pin 20. It is held in this driving position as the roller 14a moves along on the horizontal tra-cl; 16. Just before theV jaw reaches the wheel 9, however, the roller 14a runs down the ourved end 161 oi the track 16, thus causing the jaw 12 to swing back away from the pin 20 into its release or inoperative position. This release is fast enough so that after the jaw 12 once leaves the pin 2Q, it will not engage it again as it passes over the wheel 9, even -though its facility is considerably increased, due to its radial mounting. Any undue loading on the jaws 12 is thereby prevented where they pass over the wheel 9.

When the device is reversely operated, the driving jaws 13 are siinilarly'controlled by the wheels 15L on the arms 15. The rollers 152L engage the curved Vportions l'ib oi the track 17 te bring the jaws 13 up into `driving position vand such jaws are released by the rollers 15'@L runn ning down the curved portion 17aN of the track 17.

In Fig. 2, the jaw 12 is shown in driving posi-1 tion. In Fig. 3, the roller 11ab has just commenced to descend the curved portion 1Gb of the traclz- 16 to release the jaw 12 from the pin 20 just before the jaws 12 reach the periphery of the Wheel 9. In Fig. 4, the jaw 12 has reached the wheel 9 and the roller 145i has left the track lb so that the jaw 12 is released enough to permit the jaws to pass over the wheel 19 Without causing re-engagement with the pin 20.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in the appended claim, in which it is my intention to claim all novelty inherent in my invention as broadly as permissible, in view of the prior art.

What I regard as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

In combination with a fiexible driving member passing over a supporting wheel, an autornatio gripper, including; a support mounted on the driving member; a pair of jaws pivotally mounted in the support, said jaws b eing equipped with segments carrying interrneshing gear teeth; and an operating lever attached to one of said jaws, said operating lever carrying afpart'adapted to engage a stationary camr surface by movement of the carrier to operate the jaws.

' EUGENE H. HAUG. 

